profession
Pennsylvania physicians seek better access to controlled substance database
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 4, 2011
The Pennsylvania Medical Society is backing an effort to improve the state's controlled substance database to combat doctor-shopping. Pennsylvania is one of 35 states with an operational prescription monitoring program, but the current database tracks only Schedule II drugs and can be accessed only by the state attorney general's office.
House Bill 1651 would require timely reporting of all controlled substances dispensed in the state and let physicians or their designated staffers access the electronic database to find out about their patients' prescription history. The medical society is working with the House Human Services Committee, where the bill was referred on June 8, to tweak some language before pledging its support.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/07/04/prbf0704.htm.
